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HIP Continues Spotlight on Humanitarian Needs Along the U.S.-Mexico Border

SAN DIEGO, CA—Today, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP), a transnational network that works to increase impactful investments on both sides of the U.S. border, will visit migrant-serving organizations in Tijuana. This visit comes on the heels of reports that attorneys and journalists were denied entry into Mexico. “Our presence at the border is now more important than ever. We are in close relationships and providing financial support to organizations on both sides of the border. This allows us to better understand the needs of organizations that are on the front-lines and have been left with little to no resources to maneuver the ever-shifting immigration U.S. policies,” said Ana Marie Argilagos, HIP’s President and CEO. “As philanthropic leaders, we have the responsibility to respond to the humanitarian needs and the protection of rights that local leaders and institutions are working diligently to cover along the border.” During the visit to Tijuana, participants will have the opportunity to speak with community organizations, subject-matter experts and faith-based groups on the ground who struggle with an ongoing demand for their services and are often the only lifeline for many migrants. The organizations offer crucial services such as shelter, food, life-saving medical services, and legal aid. These organizations are also helping to mitigate the impact on the communities that live along the border by providing a much-needed response to the increase of needy families and vulnerable migrants entering the region. “Reliable and trustworthy information allows asylum seekers the ability to make informed decisions related to their safety and survival,” said Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, a Central America and Mexico Migration Alliance (CAMMINA) grantee, a HIP project based in Mexico. In the last four months, HIP has contributed nearly $1 million in U.S. funds to local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and has sponsored two delegations comprised of the country’s most important philanthropic organizations to better understand the process migrants undergo in reaching the U.S.-Mexico border. For more information, contact HIP’s senior manager for media, policy and engagement, Sonia Melendez Reyes at sonia@hiponline.org or 626-274-4877.